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AR# 4453

Description

What is the absolute maximum continuous current that XC4000E/XC4000XL and Spartan-XL parts can handle without damaging the parts?

Solution

Regardless of Voh, the maximum continuous current should not exceed 20mA per I/O.

The 20 mA limit is due to on-chip metal migration. Aluminum tolerates "only" about 1 mA per micron width of continuous current (thousands of hours). That is a current density of 1 mA per square micron, or 1000 A per square millimeter (about the cross area of a typical lamp cord!).

If this limit is exceeded, the device may still function; however, the effect is accumulative, and the device will be damaged in the long term.

The Spartan-XL devices have a 24mA drive buffer and so, a 24mA maximum current limit.